Individual Counseling

Individual Therapy

Dare to be remarkable; Be the Best version of you!

Individual counseling (also called psychotherapy) is a process in which you can safely explore feelings, thoughts, beliefs, behaviors, or past events that may be affecting your personal growth and/or relationships. It is a collaborative effort between you and your therapist. You will gain a greater focus while your therapist acts as an empathic and nonjudgmental guide.
Individual counseling can help you:

Understand and process your feelings.

Increase your ability to self-soothe and cope.

Explore and challenge your thinking patterns and behaviors.

Identify and enhance your personal strengths.

Communicate effectively and healthily with others.

Increase your self-esteem and self-worth.

Our therapists are highly trained and qualified to help you resolve personal, family, and relationship difficulties or life transitions. Some issues we address include:

Abuse (Emotional, Physical, Sexual)

Anger management

Anxiety

Depression

Divorce

Domestic violence

Eating disorders and/or eating issues

Grief & Bereavement

Mid-Life issues

Mood disorders

Parenting

Personality disorders

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Self-injury/cutting

Sexuality issues

Spiritual issues

Stress management

Substance abuse/addiction

Veterans & Military Issues

At Fox Valley Institute, we provide a compassionate, safe, supportive and confidential environment to address the issues concerning you. We strive to help you facilitate positive change through identifying the roots of unhealthy patterns and discovering healthy ways to cope with them. Our goal is to provide hope, peace and healing from your pain.

Individual counseling is available face-to-face, by telephone, or via Skype.

You are whoever you want to be! You just have to decide to be it!
A depressed person often has cloudy thinking and a hard time making decisions. These questions have been designed to help you determine if you’re depressed and should seek professional help. This inventory is not a substitute for a professional evaluation, but it is a powerful first step in assessing depression. Have you felt any of these symptoms consistently over the past two weeks?

Do you feel unusually down and discouraged that life will not get any better in the future? __yes __no

Have you lost your appetite (or are you overeating)? __yes __no

Do you have trouble sleeping, or do you wake up a few hours earlier than usual? __yes __no

Do you have less interest in sex than you used to? __yes __no

Are you tired and lethargic, and do you have trouble motivating yourself to get anything done? __yes __no

Do you feel like a failure, guilty for your mistakes or critical of your shortcomings? __yes __no

Do you feel anxious or worried without any obvious reason? __yes __no

Do you have less interest in what used to make you happy (hobbies, work, or pet projects)? __yes __no

Do you feel annoyed and irritated with people, or have less interest in your family or friends? __yes __no

Is it hard to think clearly, concentrate, or make decisions? __yes __no

Are you overly worried about a lot of minor aches and pains? __yes __no

Do you often think about death or committing suicide? (Anyone answering “yes” to this question should seek professional help immediately.)

Your score: Add up the number of “yeses” you’ve checked. A few of these symptoms now and then are a normal part of life’s ups and downs. But the higher your score, the more likely you’re suffering from depression.

Depression Self-Assessment Questionnaire

This assessment will help you determine if you are experiencing symptoms of depression. For each question, select the answer that best describes how you have felt the past few weeks/months.

1. Which of the following best describes your overall mood?
a) I feel sad some of the time
b) I feel sad most of the time
c) I feel sad all of the time

2. Compared to the past, do you still enjoy the same activities and hobbies now?
a) I don’t seem to enjoy things as much as I did before
b) I rarely seem to enjoy things as much as I did before
c) I don’t enjoy things the way I used to at all

3. Which of the following best describes your feelings about the future?
a) I am sometimes discouraged about the future
b) I am usually discouraged about the future
c) I feel that the future is hopeless

5. Do you have unexplained crying spells?
a) Sometimes
b) Often
c) All the time

6. Do you feel more irritable now than in the past?
a) I sometimes get irritated more easily than before
b) I get irritated more frequently now
c) I am irritated all the time

7. Have you noticed any weight loss or gain, without trying to?
a) Less than 5 lbs (lost or gained)
b) 5-10 lbs (lost or gained)
c) More than 10lbs (lost or gained)

8. How would you describe your general energy level?
a) I sometimes have difficulty doing what I want/need to do
b) I frequently have difficulty doing what I want/need to do
c) I’m too tired to do much of anything

9. How would you describe your ability to make decisions?
a) I have some trouble making decisions
b) I frequently have trouble making decisions
c) I always have trouble making decisions

10. Do you ever have thoughts of harming yourself or suicide?
a) I sometimes have thoughts but would not act on them
b) I feel I’d be better off dead *
c) I have a plan to commit suicide *

*If you checked either of these statements, please seek help from a health care professional immediately.

If your answers to most questions are b’s and c’s, you are most likely experiencing some form of depression. It may be helpful to discuss this self-assessment with your primary care physician or you may also want to schedule an appointment with a therapist at Fox Valley Institute by calling (630) 718-0717 ext. 214.

Anxiety Self-Assessment Questionnaire

This assessment will help you determine if you are experiencing symptoms of anxiety. For each question, select the answer that best describes how often you have experienced the following symptoms in the past few weeks/months.

If your answers to most questions are 3’s and 4’s, you are most likely experiencing some form of anxiety. It may be helpful to discuss this self-assessment with your primary care physician or you may also want to schedule an appointment with a therapist at Fox Valley Institute by calling (630) 718-0717 ext. 214.

Alcohol Screening

This assessment will help you determine if you are experiencing symptoms of alcohol dependence or alcohol abuse. For each question, select the answer that best describes how often you have experienced the following in the past few weeks/months.

1. I have tried to cut back or stop drinking and failed.
TRUE FALSE

2. I have had other people bother me about my drinking.
TRUE FALSE

3. I sometimes feel guilty about my drinking.
TRUE FALSE

4. I sometimes need a drink in the morning to get going or to feel better.
TRUE FALSE

5. I have had legal issues related to drinking.
TRUE FALSE

6. I have problems in some of my relationships because of my drinking.
TRUE FALSE

7. I have missed some days at work/ school, or my performance has suffered because of drinking.
TRUE FALSE

8. I drink to help me relax or cope with my problems.
TRUE FALSE

If you answered “TRUE” to 2 or more of these statements, you should discuss this self-assessment with your primary care physician or you may also want to schedule an appointment with a therapist at Fox Valley Institute by calling (630) 718-0717 ext. 214.